Chaos In House Of Reps Over Alleged $50,000 Bribe Scheme For Minority Leader’s Endorsement
Chaos In House Of Reps Over Alleged $50,000 Bribe Scheme For Minority Leader’s Endorsement
Raising a point of order during plenary, Agbese alleged that his signature had been fraudulently included among those backing Ugochinyere.
Aheated and chaotic confrontation broke out in the House of Representatives on Thursday after the Deputy House Spokesperson, Philip Agbese, accused some opposition lawmakers of receiving $50,000 each to support the emergence of Ikenga Imo-Ugochinyere as Minority Leader-designate.
The allegation sparked a tense and disorderly session, with lawmakers engaging in heated exchanges over the claims and the authenticity of signatures attached to a letter endorsing Ugochinyere for the minority leadership position.
Raising a point of order during plenary, Agbese alleged that his signature had been fraudulently included among those backing Ugochinyere.
He called for a thorough investigation into the matter, insisting that the integrity of the House and its members must be protected.
The accusation immediately divided lawmakers, triggering a shouting match on the floor of the chamber.
Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded that Ugochinyere be referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigation over the allegations.
However, opposition lawmakers opposed the move, insisting that Ugochinyere should first be given the opportunity to address the accusations before any disciplinary action could be considered.
Despite repeated interventions by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to restore order, the disagreement persisted for several minutes as lawmakers traded arguments over the appropriate course of action.
The Speaker eventually allowed Ugochinyere to respond to the allegations.
Addressing the House, Ugochinyere dismissed the claims and maintained that Agbese was one of the 61 lawmakers who endorsed his candidacy for the minority leadership position.
According to him, evidence would be presented at the appropriate time to show that Agbese personally signed the endorsement register.
Ugochinyere also questioned why lawmakers from the ruling APC appeared deeply involved in the affairs of the minority caucus, arguing that the process leading to his endorsement complied with parliamentary procedures.
He nevertheless pledged to respect the Speaker’s directive that the issue be handled internally pending further investigation.
As pressure mounted from APC lawmakers for an immediate referral of the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee, the Speaker ruled that the allegations would be examined in accordance with the House’s established procedures and rules.
The controversy followed the formal submission of a letter endorsing Ugochinyere as Minority Leader-designate.
The document, signed by 61 of the 81 minority lawmakers in the House, was presented to the Speaker earlier on Thursday for official recognition and announcement.
The process followed the resignation of Kingsley Chinda, a longtime ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, after emerging as the Rivers State governorship candidate of the APC.
Chinda’s resignation as the House Minority Leader was announced on Tuesday during plenary after the Speaker read a letter from Chinda notifying the chamber of his decision to leave the PDP.
